Sugar Bowl strikes first at Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The 2025 harness racing season landed on Prince Edward Island with a 13-dash Saturday presentation at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Sugar Bowl (Sweet Lou) won the $3,800 feature at 4-5 odds in a gritty effort for driver Gilles Barrieau as part of two wins for trainer Jeff Holmes. The six-year-old mare had to settle into the four-hole in the early going as Acefortyfourdome (Driven by Jason Hughes) tripped the opening quarter in 28.1. Stash It Away (Corey MacPherson) was out and driving to take the front past the quarter-pole before Sugar Bowl was moved hard first-over to hit the lead at the half in 58.1.

Sugar Bowl continued her lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.2 while fighting off the first-over attacking Braxtons Boy (Ken Murphy) from the outer flow then she closed out the mile in 1:57.2 with denying the pocket sitting Stash It Away the win.

Third went to Imalookertoo (Brady Sweet). Tommy Collings shares ownership of the winning mare with Brian MacPhee of Mount Stewart.

Holmes also hit the board first in race 10 as Elroy Shiner (Sweet) was a 1:57.3 winner at 1-1 for owner Frank Sweet.

Stoney Curtis (Adam Merner) went all the way in the 2025 opener with a 2:01.1 victory for trainer Jared Perrot, who co-owns with James Perrot of Stratford.

One Rock (Murphy) reached up to win the Byron Gamester Memorial in race 3 in a 1:59.4 mile for owner-trainer Luke Burke at 3-1.

Dusty Lane Zoro (Don MacNeill) was the fastest winner of the day with a 1:56.1 clocking for trainer Ron Gass and owner Alexis Gass at 1-2 odds.

Corey MacPherson hot the hands on the day tripling up from his own stable with Mr Rielly (1:58) at 1-9 odds, Melanies Magic (2:01) at 28-1 odds and Harlequin Romance (1:59.1) at 6-5.

Live racing continues next Saturday (Jan. 11).

For more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores